The "censored" bar that Craigslist placed over its "adult services" link last weekend has disappeared from the site.

Amidst criticism from state attorneys general and human rights groups, Craigslist abruptly removed its "adult services" section several days ago. But rather than wipe it from the site entirely, the company placed a black "censored" bar where the link to the adult-oriented section had once been.

The "censored" bar and the "adult services" link have now been removed entirely from the site.

Craigslist has not responded to repeated requests for comment about its removal of the "adult services" section and its choice to put the "censored" bar in its place. Founder Craig Newmark, however, did re-tweet a link to an Electronic Frontier Foundation blog post that defended Craigslist's right to host an "adult services" section.

"Through this now years-long struggle, Craigslist's legal position has been and remains absolutely, unequivocally correct: the Communications Decency Act of 1996 (or CDA) grants providers of 'interactive computer services' an absolute shield against state criminal law liability stemming from material posted by third parties," EFF senior staff attorney Matt Zimmerman wrote in that blog post. "Put simply, the law ensures that the virtual soapbox is not liable for what the speaker says: merely creating a forum in which users post ads that may violate state law plainly does not lead to liability for a Web site operator."

That law, Zimmerman wrote, protects "individuals and companies who would otherwise be vulnerable targets to litigants who want to silence speech to which they object, illegal or not."

In a Wednesday conference call with reporters, two human rights organizations argued that Craigslist's "adult services" section was aiding the human sex trafficking business. They praised Craigslist for removing its "adult services" section in the U.S., but asked that the company do so globally as well.

"This is not a First Amendment issue; this is not a free speech issue. This is about human rights. When a child or woman is sold for sex, that is a human rights issue," said Malika Saada Saar, executive director of the Rebecca Project for Human Rights.

Craigslist chief executive Jim Buckmaster echoed this sentiment in recent blog posts. "Our uniquely intensive manual screening process has resulted in a mass exodus of those unwilling to abide by Craigslist's standards, manually enforced on an ad-by-ad basis," he wrote last month.

That post came several days before 17 attorneys general penned a letter to Craigslist asking that it immediately remove Craigslist's "adult services" section or face legal consequences.

"This strategy might amount to good politics, especially in an election year, but it continues to show remarkable disdain for the bedrock legal principles that have largely served the Internet well over the past 15 years," he wrote.

Microsoft researcher Danah Boyd, meanwhile, said the Craigslist debate is "centered on the wrong axis, pitting protecting the abused against freedom of speech."

"The problem with this logic is that it fails to account for three important differences: 1) most ISPs have a fundamental business -- if not moral -- interest in helping protect people; 2) the visibility of illicit activities online makes it much easier to get at, and help, those who are being victimized; and 3) a one-stop-shop is more helpful for law enforcement than for criminals," Boyd wrote in an editorial posted on the Huffington Post. "In short, Craigslist is not a pimp, but a public perch from which law enforcement can watch without being seen."

Chloe Albanesius has been with PCMag.com since April 2007, most recently as Executive Editor for News and Features. Prior to that, she worked for a year covering financial IT on Wall Street for Incisive Media. From 2002 to 2005, Chloe covered technology policy for The National Journal's Technology Daily in Washington, DC. She has held internships at NBC's Meet the Press, washingtonpost.com, the Tate Gallery press office in London, Roll Call, and Congressional Quarterly. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from American University...
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